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^NAMING: 
OF THE: RIVER: 

CHASSRDSS 




DECORATED -AND ILLUSTRATED 
*v@V, MAX von METZKEj^ 




To the memory of a departing race 

this poem is dedicated 

by 

THE AUTHOR. 



COPYRIGHT, 1804, 1Y CHARLES 8. ROM. 



Dpies Received 
JUN 17 1904 

Cooyrfght Entry 
CLA&5 «~ xXc. No. * 



ESC 

COPY 



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£1* 



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AILY flows the Tusket River, 
Laughing 'round each leafy isle 
Where the song-birds' sweet 

notes quiver 
And the golden sunbeams smile. 



Red trout sport within the shallows, 
In the depths the salmon hides, 

O'er its bosom skim the swallows, 
As the river leaps and glides. 



Tusket — from Niketaouksit : * 
Great forked tidal river broad — 

So called ere its terraced margin 
Foot of white man yet had trod. 



* In accordance with the logical opinion expressed by Hon. George Staylcy Brown in his excellent 
history of Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. 

(3) 



Long ago, the Soricoi, dwelling 
In their wigwams on the banks, 

While their winters store was swelling, 
To Ketchiniwesk offered thanks. 



Vowed they then to name the river 
That to them its treasures gave, 

With a name to last forever ; 
So they held a council grave. 



There were three chiefs of the nation. 
Strong of sinew, great in fame, 

And by virtue of their station 
They must give the river name. 



(4) 



Spake the eldest of the sachems : 
" Sons of the Abnaki race — 

By the warmth that makes the summer, 
By the tan on warriors face, 



" By the glow upon the waters 
Ere the autumn day is done, 
I would call our stream forever 
Happy River of the Sun." 



Spake the next in years : " My brothers 
By the rapids, flashing white 

Driving down the tree uprooted 
With the speed of eagles flight, 



(5) 



11 By the current running swifter 
Than the fleetest in the chase, 

Call our stream the name I offer : 
River where the Waters Race." 



Stepped the youngest chief before them, 
Tall and straight as stands the pine, 

Saying : " Fathers of all wisdom, 
I have heard these words of thine, 



" But whoso would give a title 

To the river that we love, 
Here, before the braves assembled, 

Of the three must strongest prove/ 5 



(6) 



Came the tribesmen then together 
On the bounteous rivers shore, 

And they took an eagles feather 
And with crimson stained it o'er ; 



Then in blue again they dipped one — 
Blue from root of shrub and tree, 

And with deepest black they tipped one 
Colors of their chieftains three. 



From a lightning-riven ash tree, 
Seasoned wood of fibre sound, 

Did each leader shape an arrow, 
Slender, tapering, smooth and round, 



(8) 



Fixing to its head a spear-point 

Chipped from flint — a treasure rare 

That its weight might send the arrow 
Like a bird to cleave the air. 



Then each took his colored feather 
And he bound it to the haft 

With the finest thongs of leather, 
Making thus a perfect shaft. 



From the ash again they borrowed 
Each a piece to shape a bow, 

And the afternoon had narrowed 
When at last they stood in row — 



'9) 



Facing to the west, far distant, 
Where the sun was falling low ; 

Proud they felt the wood resistant 
As each right arm drew the bow, 



For the arrow farthest driven 

Out upon the river s breast, 
Would its senders choice have given 

As the streams name — -thus their test. 



Swift and strong from bowstring darting 
Sped the arrows on that day — 

Swift and strong and true their starting, 
Wavering not upon the way ; 



(10) 



Winging straight across the river 
Till they reached the farther shore ; 

And the oldest brave had never 
Seen such distance made before. 



Struck with wonder were the old men 
Silent wonder held them all, 

Till they saw the shaft of crimson 
Down upon the pebbles fall. 



Two yards more then fell the blue shaft, 
And two chieftains turned away, 

But the other s flashing eyes laughed 
As the black dart kept its way ; 



LofC. , % 

(») 



For its force was undiminished, 

With such strength had it been sent, 

And its mission only finished 
When a birch trees heart it rent. 



Then the tribesmen gathered round him, 
Strongest man of chieftains three, 

And with gifts did they surround him, 
Gave their finest deerskins free. 



And the young chiefs glorious mem'ry 
With the stream will ever stay, 

For the name he gave was Tusket, 
And 'twill never pass away ! 



(12) 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 988 994 4 % 




PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF ALFREO MUDGE ft SON, INC., BOSTON. 



